CO2 scams warning as tax date nears

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has warned small business of emerging “carbon scams" ahead of the introduction of the carbon tax on July 1.

The warning from ACCC deputy chairman
Michael Schaper
came after the release of updated guidance for business about carbon pricing claims.

Dr Schaper told the Weekend Financial Review that the regulator had detected a number of scams involving “carbon surveys", which sought financial information from companies and scams offering rebates if businesses and consumers provided detailed business information.

“It is your classic scam play and it is targeting small business and consumers," Dr Schaper said.

“It is not a large number but I do say to people that in the lead-up to July 1 be aware of people making scam claims."

Under ACCC carbon guidelines, businesses are warned to have a reasonable basis for making claims about the price impact of the new scheme. If a business decides to make a claim, it should be based on information that is relevant to the particular business.

Dr Schaper said the number of cases of alleged false or misleading carbon claims investigated by the ACCC had been “fairly small".

Meanwhile, the federal government faces accusations it is rushing through legislation to establish its Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The corporation will oversee $10 billion in funds, furnished through the carbon tax, to promote lower carbon intensity energy generation.

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The House of Representatives standing committee on economics was provided with a reference for an inquiry into the bills establishing the corporation on Thursday. The committee will hold a public hearing on Monday when Treasury officials will face questioning. It will deliver its final report to Parliament on Wednesday.

The government’s proposed timetable was supported by its members on the committee as well as by crossbencher
Craig Thomson
.

Opposition committee member
Kelly O’Dwyer
said it was “a disgrace that legislation with a $10 billion price tag will not be properly scrutinised".

“The government has given the committee less than a week to consider and report on four carbon tax bills. What do they have to hide?"

A spokesman for Climate Change Minister Greg Combet did not respond by deadline.